The Remington model 700 is ready to go. I received the RCBS dies yesteday. This is going to be a deer hunting load and I am looking at Barnes tipped TSX in 120 gr BT or 140 gr BT (but open to suggestions). Anyone have a load they like? In my neck of the woods, this will probably be 200 yard shots at the max. For that matter, the norm would be 75 yards to 150 yards. Thanks Jeff.

My best load, to date, is a middle load from Nosler 5. 140gr Ballistic Tip, 55gr. of RL-19 in Rem cases under a Rem 9 1/2 primer. Chrony'd from a 26" barrel, 3024, Extreme Spread 29, Standard Deviation 9.9. 3 shot 1" groups. I loaded 56 for 3083, but much larger stats and 2" groups. I'd also try 145 Speers and 139 Hornadys to see which of the three your barrel likes. Max is listed at 57 grains.

.284, I've been loading .280 Rem for 30 years. Mines a Ruger old tang safety M-77 bolt rifle with a varmint weight barrel.

I just did some experimenting with 30 cal. GMX bullets from Hornady. If you really want to use a mono-metal bullet, I'd suggest you give them a try? They have them in 139 grain weight. They would compare favorably with the barnes tipped TSX, even better, the Hornady is built from gilding metal, not pure copper like the barnes. Gilding metal is what most jacketed bullets use for the jackets, it's 10-15% zinc, which makes it harder, fouls less.

Damn, I just checked Midway, they don't have them in stock, expected on 8-10-09!

With 140 and 160 gr Partitions I have had excellent luck with H4831. In the process of adjusting loads for H4831sc and BBR2 primers. Even though you are only hunting deer within 200 yds, the 280 really shines with 160 gr bullets and H4831sc and RL22. I would try the 160 Accubonds, cheaper than Partitions and plenty for deer. Sieera Game Kings would be an excellent low-cost alternative.

Hello There. Just thought i would share this with you being i did not see it already in other reply's. I have been loading for 41 + years. One of my favorites is the .280 Remington as well as the 7mm-08 caliber. As for the .280 using Remington & Winchester brass usually once fired and better still Neck sized only after fire forming it in your rifle this is what i found to be one outstanding load and Super Accurate. Using Remington Or Winchester brass with a Rem. 9 1/2 LR standard primer. IMR 4350 powder. I seem to remember 57 gr's but most manual's peak at 55.5 grains. Bullet was a Speer 145 Gr. pointed soft point. This load gave me one hole groups @ 100 yards all day long in a Remington 700 ADL which was stamped 7mm Express/.280 caliber. Some years back Remington tried to bring back the .280 by giving it a new fancy name and a little more power by boosting the velocity by 80 fps from it's original factory loading and a rifle to go along with it marked 7mm Express. In any event it wasn't a success and a year or two later they went back to marking the box's .280 Rem as well as the rifle's. I found by pinching the neck just enough to hold a bullet in place i would insert it into the brass just enough to hold the bullet then i would chamber it very carefully and close the bolt to seat it to the LAN's. This was an easy way to establish overall length and then i would extract it very carefully not to disturb the setting and use my calipers to measure it and back off .05 thousandths and set the seating die accordingly to that lenght and it worked fine. I do this with all of my rifles to achive maxium accuracy as well as neck size only fire formed brass. Give it a whirl and let me know how well it works. Good Luck, Rick Sr.

Thanks, that's good stuff. I used a similar method to find my lands as my RCBS precision mic was not so precision. I have a RCBS full length die but, I think the neck sizing die might be worth the money. My understanding is that the neck sizers are for one gun and full length is more for guys who like to load for multiple guns in the same caliber.

As for the 7mm Express/ 280 rem, I know the the history for I have one built in 1981 marked 7mm Express. I love the old girl and I will certainly try your suggestions.

I have a Ruger M77 Hawkeye in 280 Rem. I worked up a load the other day. I used Barnes 140 Gr ttsx. I loaded 21 rounds up. I'm using Rem Brass, mag 215 primers. I went off of the Barnes reloading data Sheet. I calls for 53.5 to 57 gr of RL 22. Three rounds of each. 54, 54.5, 55, 55.5, 56, 56.5 and 57 at Barnes Red Line.

Every load I worked up was under a inch and a half. The two best loads were 56 Gr @ .75 inch group @ aprx 2910 fps and 55 Gr @ .5 inch group aprx 2850 fps.

My next run will be IMR 4350. It will be a 100 fps slower. Or I may just go with the 55 gr of RL 22.

On another note: It is a new rifle and a new scope. So I worked up a load with Hornady 120 Gr V-Max to get the rifle sighted in. I had .85 Groups with 55 Gr. of IMR 4350. Just pulled this one out of the book. shoots about an Inch Higher then the Barnes 140's.

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